Gerard Manley Hopkins

Hopkins is
buried to the left of the entrance in an unmarked grave. (The Jesuit
Cemetery is a very neat, pebbled plot.) His name is inscribed on
the base of the large granite crucifix that stands near by.

Hopkins' poetry is notable for its use of
sprung
rhythm. This utilises abrupt single stress metrical feet. He used this
technique in his famous poem The Windhover.
Hopkins also employed alliteration in
many of his poems.

None of Hopkins' poetry was published during his
lifetime. His work finally appeared in 1918 when it was published by his friend and
fellow poet Robert Bridges.

In 1975 a
memorial tablet was placed in 'Poets' Corner', Westminster Abbey, London. This
commemorated the centenary of the shipwreck of the Thames which inspired his famous poem The
Wreck of the Deutschland.

Hopkins' work had a profound influence on the poetry of
Ted Hughes. (Compare the opening line of Hughes'
poem The Thought Fox with the opening line of The Windhover.)

If Hopkins were alive today, he would be astonished at the level of interest
in his work.